Here is a little review I did for the Nova System, after having been gigging with it for
quite a while now!

So here is a little bit of background. I already own the TC
Electronic G-Major and I have done for about 8 years now, so I knew what I was expecting
effect's wise, pure effects awesomeness from TC Electronic. For pure simplicity, the Nova
system is just fantastic! I am using it in simplified set up for gigging, where I am not
using my rack system. It works really well and most importantly means I can do away with a
massive pedalboard, and could just simply have the Nova System and a wah and I am away!
Having said that...I am using a few additional pedals in the pedalboard. One is the
Electro-Harmonix Micro Q-Tron as the Nova System doesn't have an envelope filter sadly and
the other is the Suhr Riot which is just pure distortion heaven and I don't want to not
have it as I love it so much!! It is the perfect partner for the Nova System as the
distortions on the NS are really great but range from TubeScreamer like overdrive to
classic rock distortions, the Riot pedal really is the 'turn it up to 11' pedal.

How easy is it to use?On the whole the unit it very simple to use. There are two
main ways of using it, one being in preset mode, where the bottom three pedals on the left
(Drive, Comp, Rev) enable you to switch between presets. In this mode you still have
access to be able to turn on and off the Pitch, Delay, Mod and Boost functions (and tap
tempo). By holding your foot on either the Pitch or Mod control you can scroll up and down
banks of presets. You can also connect the G-Minor footswitch to enable you to switch
between presets, and you can then use the Nova System in pedal board mode.

Pedal mode provides you with access to all the pedals as it would on a standard pedal
board (i.e. you get 7 different effects). By holding the pedal down for a couple of
seconds you can switch presets (this happens on the release of the pedal!). I know that
this annoys a lot of users, but it makes total sense to me, you have multi functioning
switches and the easiest way to be able to not only switch an effect on an off and use it
to switch preset is the way TC have implemented. If you want instant preset switching (but
loosing access to turn the Drive, Comp and Rev on and off) just switch the unit to preset
mode. I think it is a really clever idea and it makes sense to me.

In a sense
you could see it that you could potentially have a different pedal board setup for each
song for example and then switch between them between songs. If you content the G-Minor or
use a midi controller, such as the FCB 1010 or the Tech 21 Midi-Moose, then you have
instantaneous access to the different presets. So it is actually quite powerful.

There has been a lot said about the patch changing method that is implemented in the
unit, I understand that they switches are multi-functional and the patch change works on
the release and there is a lag time in the loading. It is fine for the way I use the
system, but I can understand that it isn't for everyone. Potentially adding a G-Minor
pedal or Midi Footswitch is the way forward, it is something I am considering!

I currently only have 3 different patches (read that as pedal boards) set up. Primarily
to switch between the overdrive and distortion pedals. One preset has the overdrive and
tremlo effect and the other to have the distortion effect and flanger. The rest stay the
same.

So most importantly what does it SOUND like?

The effects are
pristine in quality, and I know that is not for everyone, but it certainly works for me. I
think the analogue drives are really good, whilst not out and out metal distortion, you
can get some great rock and blues tones from the OD, and classic rock, metal from the
distortion. But if you use it to drive a tube amp I think it would work well! The user
interface is dead simple, I like the patch system where you can use different patches like
different pedal boards, that is fantastic!

I personally really like the
compressor, octave and boost functions. The boost is really really useful and can add a
considerable boost say when you are switching to a lead tone. It is also fantastic into a
tube amp as you can get the amp to break up nicely and cleanly with the boost. I think all
the effects are pretty awesome, but I am not too impressed with some of the modulation
options, but I should add I am not a modulation fan. As usual too their is a perceived
drop in volume when using modulation effects, I make up by this by running with the
compressor or the boost to increase the perceived level.

You can also create a
whammy effect by adding and additional expression pedal (sadly this uses the same input as
the G-minor footswitch, so it is one or the other!).

Programming the sounds is
dead simple, plus for each effect you can store up to 4 favourites (i.e. configurations
you like), whilst you can't access these without having to bend down and press the button
(and in a sense in a gig why would you?) it is a really nice feature. The unit also has a
speaker emulated output (although you loose the use of the EQ block...which by the way
isn't footswitchable, which is a shame!). As the Nova System is not an amp modeller taking
this approach might not be the best course of action, but in a totally emergency it is
there, plus you could get something like the Tech 21 character pedals to provide you with
an 'amp' and then run that either after or before the Nova System.

Are there
any nice touches?The unit is really solid, the brushed metal looks fantastic, the
orange lights illuminating the pedals are also really great under stage lighting, as well
as the display LCD. It runs from an IEC plug which is also fantastic, so no wall wart
power supplies, I mean ideally it would run from my *** distribution box, but I it makes
like really easy. The size is just right too, it can be thrown in a backpack, or on a
small pedal board. I have actually managed to downsize to using an Electro-Harmonix Pedal
Board Bag which may not be suited for touring, but if you are carefully it is a great
little (and light) bag which you can stick pretty much anywhere!

Will it fall
apart?

It is a pretty robust unit, perhaps not as tank proof as something like
a Boss pedal, but not bad at all. It is susceptible to scratches though!

Pros

1)The sounds are great (for me!)2)The flexibility and the ability
to have a number of different pedal board configurations at the press of a switch3)The size and weight and construction

The negatives (for me)

1)
The Tuner - The tuner has a limited range..... I can't tune my 7 string, not good in my
opinion...perhaps this could be addressed in a firmware update.

2)Whilst I
totally understand the reason that you can't to 4CM (4 Channel Method) with the Nova
System (i.e. stump up and buy a G-System), it is a real sadness that the drive pedal (and
also technically the compressor too) are lost if you decided to run it in the effects
loop.

3)No filter effect and no foot switchable EQ

I would
recommend at least trying it out!

AlternativesThe main contenders are the
Line 6 M-Series floorboards (that is effects units only, rather than modellers)

I am sure I will continue to update this review as I spend more time with the unit. But
it has been in my pedalboard for about 7 months now and it isn't going anywhere!!

2)Whilst I totally understand the reason that you can't to 4CM (4
Channel Method) with the Nova System (i.e. stump up and buy a G-System), it is a real
sadness that the drive pedal (and also technically the compressor too) are lost if you
decided to run it in the effects loop.

I've had mine for almost a year and this is my biggest gripe.
The analogue drive was what attracted me to the TC but I've ended up using it in the loop
of my Blackstar combo (so I'm not using the drive or comp).

I use it in preset
mode as I'm also lead vocalist and I need to be able to do everything with one button plus
I have a VooDoo Labs MIDI switcher so that the Nova can also switch amp channels. I tried
the G switch but I didn't like the way it worked with the bank switching. I now use an
expression pedal as a master volume.

The delays and reverbs are everything that
you'd expect from TC. I make use of the harmonizers on a couple of tracks. The tremolo
is nice on clean sounds and I've just started using the phaser in an attempt to get
something that hints at a Univibe.

I actually ended up with a Blackstar HT-20 after trying it out from
your recommendation on a previous thread (the 40 was simply not practical with my
car/flat)....and it sounds great. I have been using the Nova in the loop, but currently I
have really downsized and I am running the Nova straight into a Blues Junior and it is
awesome. I really did miss the nova drive section and the compressor and this method seems
to work perfectly! Perhaps in the future they will release one where you can access the
drive, but then again that is the G system or a Nova System with added Nova drive!

Funnily enough after replying to your review, and after rehearsal last
Sunday, I've decided to give the Nova another try in front of the amp. I'd like to have
the flexibility of having different flavours of OD & Distortion available not to mention
compression.

I know what you mean, I really do like the Nova OD and distortion and
the flexibility of running it in front of the amp. I did think that actually purchasing
two would give you the best both worlds and still be cheaper than a G-system (I know you
don't have all the routing options etc etc) but might make an interesting combo...I might
start trawling e-bay now

After a brief spell in front of the amp the Nova has
been returned to the effects loop and I've paired it with a Behringer FCB1010
floor controler. This gives me access to 10 patches with one press as well as
switching channels on my Blackstar combo. As I'm not using the drive or compressor on the
Nova I've dragged a Boss CS-3 out of the cupboard and I've treated myself to Blackstar
HT-Dual pedal.

In practice I don't use all 10 patches within a set but I can
set up subtle variations to trial during rehearsal.

The Nova definitely sounds
better in the effects loop rather than before the amp.

How are you finding the HT-Dual? I have had a few problems with mine,
two channels getting switched on and the only way to turn them off was unplugging! Might
just be my unit.

I think you highlight the best and the worst of the Nova
system, it is so versitile and it sounds so great, it fits in easily into a more complex
set up. (I have had the FCB1010 for years and years, first to control my JMP-1 and TC
G-Major, and now possibly to control our lighting set up and I think it would be fantastic
addition to use with the Nova (although a massive footboard!!), it is great that you can
set it for channel switching.) But on the downside you loose the Drive and Compressor,
which I really like (along with the delay). I think as I alluded to in the video that for
the most fantastic system ever you could simply buy 2 nova systems, one in front and one
in the loop, and you would still be well short of the cost of a G-System

I am currently going straight into a Blues Junior III (bad back at the mo...must be
getting old!) and the Nova sounds great (no loop on the BJ III), the drive works so well,
I am just holding back on the delays etc.

I'm still getting used to both the Dual and the FCB but so far no
problems. One advantage of having the FCB is that I can have the Nova at a more
convenient height whilst editing. It does take a lot of floor space though.

Hopefully we'll be playing a few gigs even closer to you shortly. We've just been
joined by a female vocalist from Stockport so we'll be looking for gigs around that neck
of the woods.

I have had the Nova for about 18 months so far and found it to be excellent for setting up
good drive and clean sounds in front of a valve amp on teh clean channel. The ability to
switch in modulation, delay and boost is useful, but like others, it is an irritant that
the reverb and drive sections cannot be disengaged in preset mode although I generally
find I can work round that OK.

It is very capable with acoustic through an
acoustic amplifier too which has been very useful to me.

However, has anyone
else had issues with the effects not switching off properly? When the reverb or harmonizer
etc is switched out of a patch, it is still there at very low level in the backgound. So
when using it for recording and wanting to record a compeltely dry guitar, it is not
possible. It's certainly not unusable but just shouldn't happen. I am not aware I am
doing anything wrong with the set up, but perhaps someone can put me right on that.

However, has
anyone else had issues with the effects not switching off properly? When the reverb or
harmonizer etc is switched out of a patch, it is still there at very low level in the
backgound. So when using it for recording and wanting to record a compeltely dry guitar,
it is not possible. It's certainly not unusable but just shouldn't happen. I am not aware
I am doing anything wrong with the set up, but perhaps someone can put me right on that.

Nope, haven't had this
problem. However, when I first got my NS I noticed the drive bleeding through on clean
settings, which led me to get in touch with TC support. According to the guy this is
something that can't be fully avoided due to the internal design of the unit. The
workaround would be to turn the drive down all the way in clean settings (not just disable
it), which did help indeed.

However, I've recently tried to replicate the
problem, and I couldn't. So either I forgot how exactly this problem was produced, or my
NS cured itself

So I can't find anything about my NS that I don't like. OK, as
mentioned before, the tuner isn't too good, cos even a drop D wont tune correctly. But the
workaround is easy: just use the 12th fret harmonic to tune.

In an ideal world
I would like to change a few things about the NS, like separate inputs for expression
pedal and the footswitch, auto wah, a proper amp-like EQ with bass mid and treble, and a
more comprehensive way to change the order of the indiv. effect blocks, but this ain't an
ideal world. The NS has served me well on hundreds of gigs over the last 2 years, so I
don't intend to replace it with something new any time soon.

Oh, BTW, I too
use it in front of a Blues Junior (sometimes two, if it's a big stage and I want the full
stereo treatment )

Seems we live parallel lives! 100's of gigs with the Nova system
and Blues Junior over last couple of years, I have tried a few different things, but keep
coming back to this combo. Seems like we also have the same requests for features. I'd
love a new one to come out (especially with an autowah, as I have to take the relatively
massive Q-tron on my board as it is a big part of my sound). Would love to be able to use
G-switch and expression pedal, improved tuner (but now I have the polytune mini) and
switchable eq (option to switch with another block perhaps?)